Fourteenth annual event held in Jena on May 5, 2024
The fourteenth annual LaSalle Parish Scholars’ Reception was held Monday, May 5, 2025, at First Baptist Church in Jena, sponsored by The GEO Group and the LaSalle Economic Development District (LEDD).
Nearly 80 scholars were presented with 181 scholarships for a total of $110,000.00 at the reception, the largest amount ever received in the 14 years of the event.
Held each year to honor parish scholars who receive scholarships and to honor businesses and organizations that sponsor the scholarships, the LaSalle Parish Scholars’ Reception is featured with the pictures in this special “Scholar’s Reception” section.
The program opened with the welcome given by Shad Rice, Facility Administrator at the GEO Group’s Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center, who also served as the Master of Ceremonies.
Jena High School Student of the Year Kaylee Kemp gave the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Coben Willis of Jena High School.
Walter E. Dorroh, Jr., President of LEDD, gave a few opening remarks and recognized the donors.
“As President of LEDD, I would like to welcome each of you to this event— the 14th Annual LaSalle Parish Scholars Reception.
This event was spearheaded by David Cole, a former Warden of The GEO Group. As representatives of the business community, GEO and LEDD decided in 2012 to jointly host this event to honor both the recipients of the scholarships and our local donors. We wanted to celebrate academic excellence and challenge our best and brightest to further their education and choose to make LaSalle Parish their forever home.
At the first event, held May 15, 2012, we honored 26 LaSalle Parish graduates and celebrated with them as they received 50 scholarships totaling $34,000 at the Jena Town Hall. Since that date, this event has awarded over 1,800 local scholarships valued at more than $980,000.00 for almost 900 LaSalle Parish graduates. This has truly become an event that the community has invested in!
I would like to commend the generosity of all the participating organizations tonight. A special thank you goes to the Caroline Bradford Family, The GEO Group and Homeland Bank. These three organizations collectively will distribute more than $37,000 in scholarships tonight. The local organizations and families that you see on the program have a generous history of funding local scholarships. We commend them all for choosing to invest in our youth.
We are very proud of each one of you and our local school system. Academic excellence is a vital to economic and community development.
It’s a big night! Tonight 79 students will leave here with 181 scholarships valued at $110,000.00.
Thank you for being a part of LEDD’s effort to strive for A Greater LaSalle.”
Memorials & Family Sponsored Awards
Caroline Bradford Memorial presented by Casie and Slade Bradford and Maci Bradford Phillips.
Asif Riaz Chaudhry Memorial presented by Dr. Riaz and Samina Chaudhry.
Adrienne P. and Walter E. Dorroh, Sr. Memorial presented by Walter Dorroh Jr.
Nick Harris Memorial presented by the family of Nick Harris.
W.B. & Ruth McCartney Scholarship in Education presented by Dariel McCartney Adams and Delana McCartney Jones.
Lee A. McDowell Memorial presented by Adam Powell.
Thompson & Vickers Memorial presented by Catherine Johnson.
W.H. Ward Family Forestry Scholarship presented by Anne Keene and Kathryn Book.
Jena High Awards
Jena High School Alumni Association award presented by Anne Lott.
JHS Class of 1965 award presented by Vicki Buckhalter.
Larry Evans & Crusty Toler Memorial presented by Blake Phillips.
Emma Dee Gray Memorial presented by Lanny Webb.
Coach Matt Mason Memorial presented by Ashton Rymer, Shelby, Jaynie and J.T. Mason.
Kristy Martin Memorial presented by Adam Powell.
Michelle Stevenson Gray Richard Memorial presented by Hailey Gray Cooksey and Janet Stevenson.
Ginger D. Worthington Memorial Leadership presented by Melvin and Coral Worthington.
LaSalle High Awards
Kiwanis Club of Olla awards presented by Jake Long.
Cody Ranton Memorial presented by Chris Bennett.
Kenneth Strain FFA Memorial presented by Chris Bennett.
Gary Taylor Memorial presented by Jody O’Bier.
Business and Community Awards
Alternative Concept Care Services presented by Zane Wells.
CLTCC, Rod Brady Campus presented by Michelle Morea.
Dixie Softball presented by David Mizell and Anders Thompson.
LaSalle Lumber presented by Michael Veuleman and Rhonda Owen.
Lions Club awards presented by Doug Moore. Louisiana Sheriff’s Association award presented by Lane Windham.
WoodmenLife – Focus Forward and Louis P. Ledet, Sr. Memorial awards presented by Tracy Dean and Lisa Grant.
Homeland Bank scholarships presented by John McIlwain and Anita Masoner.
The GEO Group scholarships presented by Shad Rice and Melinda Parker.
LaSalle Parish Scholars Fund awards, including Nelda Rosier Memorial presented by Cynthia Cockerham, Sammy Franklin Memorial presented by Reagan Franklin, LaSalle Lumber presented by Michael Veuleman and Rhonda Owen, JCP Management and Senator Glen Womack presented by Canaan Cotton, Drax presented by Shelby Kelmell and Taylor Linke, and the final scholars awards were presented by Walter Dorroh, Jr. and Cynthia Cockerham.
To be eligible to receive a LaSalle Parish Scholars Fund scholarship, parish seniors must have graduated with a 3.5 GPA.
Closing remarks were made by Klaire Fenoli, LaSalle Parish and LaSalle High School Student of the Year and Shad Rice, The GEO Group.
The benediction was pronounced by Canaan Stowe from LaSalle High School.
To donate to the scholar’s fund, make checks to the LaSalle Parish Scholar’s Foundation and mail to LEDD, c/o Cynthia Cockerham, P.O. Box 775, Jena, La, 71342 with contact information and for memorial scholarships, who the scholarship is in memory or honorarium of.
For more information, visit www.agreaterlasalle.com.
